marilyn monroe
Why Marilyn matters
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most iconic sex symbols in American culture. Her rise to stardom in the 1950s was fueled by her glamorous looks, distinctive voice, and confident yet vulnerable persona. Monroe's roles in films like The Seven Year Itch and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes solidified her image as the ultimate blonde bombshell, often playing characters who were both sensual and naïve. Her famous "wind-blown dress" moment in The Seven Year Itch became a symbol of sexual allure and freedom, cementing her status in pop culture. Her tragic death at the age of 36, shrouded in mystery and speculation, further contributed to her lasting legacy. Monroe's blend of innocence and sexuality, paired with her charisma, made her a lasting icon of femininity and sex appeal. Marilyn Monroe remains a symbol of both the glitz and darker sides of fame, influencing fashion, film, and cultural conversations about beauty and stardom.
Peeplverse Ranking
Currently, Marilyn Monroe is the 237th most influential person in the peeplverse.
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quotes by marilyn
quotes about marilyn
"Fear is stupid. So are regrets."
"A wise girl knows her limits; a smart girl knows that she has none."
"If I'd observed all the rules, I'd never got anywhere."
"I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it."
"A career is wonderful, but you can't curl up with it on a cold night."
"If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything."
"Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
“I don’t forgive people because I’m weak; I forgive them because I am strong enough to know people make mistakes.”
"If you're gonna be two-faced at least make one of them pretty.”
"Hollywood's a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss, and fifty cents for your soul."
"People have curious attitudes about nudity just as they have about sex. Nudity and sex are the most commonplace things in the world. Yet people often act as if they were things that only existed on Mars."
"I sleep in the nude but I pull the sheets up."
"She’s Mae West, Theda Bara, and Bo Peep all rolled into one." -- Groucho Marx
"I'll finally get to see Marilyn." -- Joe DiMaggio, last words
...about that "dumb blonde" thing
Marilyn Monroe was far from the "dumb blonde" stereotype she often portrayed in her films. While her on-screen persona was typically that of a naïve, ditzy, and sexually alluring woman, Monroe herself was much more complex and intelligent. Monroe was known to be an avid reader, with a personal library of over 400 books, including works of literature, philosophy, and poetry. She studied acting seriously and worked with renowned acting coaches, such as Lee Strasberg, to improve her craft. Monroe also started her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, in an effort to gain more control over her career and break free from typecasting.
marilyn monroe
Marilyn Monroe's relationships with both John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) have been subjects of fascination and speculation. Monroe, an iconic actress and sex symbol, was rumored to have had romantic liaisons with JFK during the early 1960s. The most public link between the two came during Monroe's sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at JFK's birthday gala in 1962. This event fueled rumors of their alleged affair, although no concrete evidence has confirmed the full extent of their relationship. You can watch Marilyn Monroe’s famous performance of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" on Marilyn's See+Hear Page.
Additionally, Monroe was rumored to have had a close connection with Robert F. Kennedy, JFK's younger brother and then-U.S. Attorney General. Some reports suggest that after JFK distanced himself from Monroe, RFK became involved with her. However, like the rumors surrounding JFK, details of Monroe's relationship with RFK remain unproven, clouded in speculation.
Both relationships have been subject to much debate and intrigue, often tied to Monroe's mysterious death in August 1962. Some conspiracy theories have suggested that the Kennedys’ involvement in her life may have played a role in her tragic demise, though these claims lack substantial evidence.
Marilyn, Jack and Bobby
The president she really loved...Abraham Lincoln?
100 words. Marilyn Monroe had a deep admiration for Abraham Lincoln, whom she considered a personal hero and surrogate father figure. Growing up in difficult circumstances, Monroe found inspiration in Lincoln's life story, particularly his rise from humble beginnings to greatness. She reportedly kept a framed portrait of Lincoln in her home and expressed a connection to his sense of melancholy, which resonated with her own struggles. Monroe admired Lincoln's leadership, compassion, and dedication to equality. Her fascination with him reflected her yearning for strength, resilience, and the pursuit of a better life, themes that were significant in her own journey.
In My Story, a posthumously published autobiography that Monroe co-authored with Ben Hecht, she mentioned Lincoln as someone she greatly admired, citing his humble origins and his ability to rise above adversity.
Monroe’s admiration for Abraham Lincoln was more intellectual and philosophical. She often spoke about her respect for Lincoln, seeing him as a symbol of wisdom and justice, as well as a father-figure to fill the paternal void she felt all her life. She reportedly kept a portrait of Lincoln on her bedside table, and traveled with it wherever she went. Monroe was known to be a voracious reader, and her personal library included books on Lincoln. She once commented, “I used to read everything I could find about Abraham Lincoln." This admiration was likely rooted in her sense of empathy, as she related to Lincoln's humble beginnings and struggles.
Fairy Godfather, Capt. Ronald Reagan
In late 1944, she met photographer David Conover, who had been sent by Captain Ronald Reagan, then working in the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit, to the factory to shoot morale-boosting pictures of female workers. At the time, Reagan was taking a break from his acting career to serve during the war; he later became the 40th president of the US. Although none of Marilyn's pictures were used, she quit working at the factory in January 1945 and began modeling for Conover and his friends. Defying her deployed husband and his disapproving mother, she moved on her own and signed a contract with the Blue Book Model Agency in August 1945. The agency deemed Monroe's figure more suitable for pin-up than high fashion modeling, and she was featured mostly in advertisements and men's magazines. To make herself more employable, she straightened her naturally curly brown hair and dyed it platinum blonde, upon receiving advice from a modeling agency.
Playboy's first centerfold
Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner are linked through one of the most iconic moments in pop culture history: Monroe was the first cover girl for Playboy magazine. In 1953, Hefner launched Playboy with a photograph of Monroe, using a nude image from a 1949 calendar shoot that Monroe had done years earlier. Hefner purchased the rights to the photo for $500 without Monroe’s direct involvement in the magazine’s launch. This issue, featuring Monroe on the cover and in the famous centerfold, sold over 50,000 copies, marking the beginning of Playboy’s success.
Despite the fact that Monroe never posed specifically for Playboy, her image became inextricably linked with the magazine and its celebration of sexuality. Hefner later credited Monroe’s appearance in the first issue as crucial to Playboy’s early success. In another curious connection, Hefner purchased and is buried in a crypt next to Monroe’s at the Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles, a fact that further ties their legacies together in public memory.
Marilyn and Frank were friends with benefits...
Marilyn Monroe's relationship with Frank Sinatra was a complicated mix of romance, friendship, and shared struggles. The two met in the 1950s, when Monroe was at the height of her fame, and Sinatra, already a legendary singer, was regaining his career momentum. Their connection grew closer after Monroe's divorce from playwright Arthur Miller in 1961. Both were recovering from broken relationships and navigating the pressures of stardom.
Sinatra was known for his protective nature toward Monroe, especially as she faced emotional and psychological challenges. Their bond deepened after Monroe's brief institutionalization in 1961, when Sinatra reportedly helped her regain stability. Although rumors swirled about a romantic involvement, it's unclear how serious their relationship was. Some accounts suggest they had an on-and-off romance, while others indicate they were primarily close friends.
Despite their closeness, Sinatra's lifestyle—marked by his connections to Hollywood's elite and rumored ties to organized crime—was a contrast to Monroe's fragile mental state and need for emotional security. Sinatra allegedly invited Monroe to stay at his Nevada compound in 1962, shortly before her death, hoping to offer her solace. Monroe's untimely passing in August of that year affected Sinatra deeply, though their relationship remained largely private and undefined to the public.
Was Marilyn murdered??
Marilyn Monroe's drug use became more prominent as her career progressed and she struggled with intense pressure from fame, personal insecurities, and a series of troubled relationships. She used barbiturates and amphetamines to cope with anxiety, insomnia, and the stresses of Hollywood life. Sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and painkillers were part of her regular routine, prescribed by doctors who were not fully aware of her growing dependency. Monroe’s drug use affected her professional life, leading to erratic behavior on film sets, including frequent tardiness and difficulty remembering lines. Her emotional instability, exacerbated by her drug dependency, contributed to several health issues and hospitalizations.
On August 5, 1962, Monroe was found dead at her Los Angeles home at the age of 36. The official cause of death was listed as acute barbiturate overdose, and it was ruled a probable suicide. Empty pill bottles were found near her bed. However, the circumstances surrounding her death have fueled widespread speculation and conspiracy theories, with some believing foul play might have been involved. The speculation that Monroe had been murdered first gained mainstream attention with the publication of Norman Mailer's Marilyn: A Biography in 1973. In the following years became widespread enough for the Los Angeles County District Attorney John Van de Kamp to conduct a "threshold investigation" in 1982 to see whether a criminal investigation should be opened. No evidence of foul play was found.
Diamonds
One of Marilyn's most iconic scenes is her
performance of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". Based on the Broadway show, the film starred Marilyn and Jane Russell as two American showgirls who travel to France in search of love.
Happy Birthday
Adding fuel to the rumors of an affair between Marilyn and US President John F. Kennedy was her sultry rendition of "Happy Birthday" at JFK's 45th birthday party. Her flesh-colored dress, designed by Bob Mackie, was so tight-fitting she wore nothing under it and the lighting made it appear see-through (note audience gasps when she takes off her fur). The May 1962 performance was one of Marilyn's last. She died in August that year.
Goodbye, Norma Jean
Elton John's song tribute to Marilyn and her treatment by Hollywood has become a classic. "Candle in the Wind," written by Elton and Bernie Taupin, was
repurposed and played at the funeral of Princess Diana. That version became the biggest-selling single in UK history.
Whatever blows your skirt up...
This famous shot was taken while Marilyn was filming "The Seven Year Itch" in New York City. Husband No. 2 Joe DiMaggio was on set and his anger and disgust at the public attention paid to his wife caused further strains in the marriage.
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What's the deal with Andy Warhol's paintings of Marilyn?
using 200 words, tell me about Andy Warhol's use of Marilyn Monroe in his art
Andy Warhol’s use of Marilyn Monroe in his art is one of his most iconic contributions to pop culture. Following Monroe’s death in 1962, Warhol began a series of portraits using a publicity still from her film Niagara (1953). His most famous works, such as Marilyn Diptych (1962), feature her image repeated multiple times, often in vibrant colors juxtaposed with stark black-and-white versions. This repetition reflects Warhol’s fascination with celebrity culture and the commodification of fame.
Warhol's technique of screenprinting allowed him to mass-produce Monroe’s image, echoing the way she was commodified by Hollywood and the media. The vibrant, colorful prints convey the glamour and allure associated with Monroe, while the faded or distorted images in works like Marilyn Diptych suggest the darker side of fame, including her personal struggles and tragic death. Warhol famously said, "The more you look at the same exact thing, the more the meaning goes away," capturing the emptiness of celebrity worship in American culture.
Through Monroe’s image, Warhol explored themes of identity, mass production, and the fleeting nature of fame, solidifying both Monroe’s and his own legacy in contemporary art.
The highest price ever paid for an Andy Warhol painting of Marilyn Monroe is $195 million. This record-breaking sale occurred in May 2022 at Christie’s auction in New York. The artwork, titled Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964), is one of Warhol’s most famous depictions of Monroe, part of a series he created based on a publicity still from her 1953 film Niagara. This sale not only made the painting the most expensive 20th-century artwork ever sold at auction but also set a record for the highest price for an American artist's work
Several prominent museums around the world feature Andy Warhol’s iconic images of Marilyn Monroe in their collections. Notably:
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The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York holds Marilyn Monroe (1967), a portfolio of ten screenprints that explore various color variations of Monroe's image, based on a promotional still from her 1953 film Niagara. This series is central to Warhol’s exploration of fame and glamour in pop culture.
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has Warhol’s Gold Marilyn Monroe (1962), created shortly after Monroe’s death. This piece places her famous image against a gold background, symbolizing both her status as a cultural icon and her tragic passing.
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The Tate Modern in London features Marilyn Diptych (1962), one of Warhol’s most famous works. This large-scale piece consists of 50 images of Monroe, half in vibrant color and half in black and white, reflecting the tension between her public persona and private life.
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The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, dedicated to the artist’s life and work, holds multiple prints and paintings of Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn and Joltin' Joe DiMaggio
Marilyn Monroe's marriage to Joe DiMaggio, one of the most famous relationships of the 1950s, was a brief but highly publicized union. DiMaggio, a baseball legend and former New York Yankees star, first met Monroe in 1952, and they quickly became one of Hollywood's most glamorous couples. Despite their differences—Monroe was a rising film star, DiMaggio was more reserved and private—they married on January 14, 1954.
Their marriage, however, was troubled almost from the start. Monroe's fame and her image as a sex symbol clashed with DiMaggio's more conservative values and desire for a traditional, private life. He reportedly struggled with jealousy over Monroe's career and public persona, which led to tension between them. One notable incident was
DiMaggio’s reaction to the famous scene in The Seven Year Itch (1955), where Monroe's white dress is blown up by a subway grate, which reportedly angered him.
The couple separated just nine months after their wedding, with Monroe filing for divorce in October 1954, citing mental cruelty. Despite their split, DiMaggio remained deeply attached to Monroe, supporting her through personal struggles, and even arranged her funeral after her tragic death in 1962. DiMaggio barred the Kennedy family from attending, as well as most of Hollywood, saying, "Tell them if it wasn't for them, she'd still be here."
Marilyn and "Death of a Salesman" playwright
Marilyn's marriage to playwright Arthur Miller was one of the most intriguing relationships of her life, blending Hollywood glamour with intellectualism. The two met in the early 1950s, but it wasn’t until 1956, following Monroe’s divorce from baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, that their relationship became serious. They married on June 29, 1956, in a civil ceremony, followed by a Jewish ceremony two days later.
Miller, celebrated for works like Death of a Salesman, was an intellectual and a respected figure in the literary world, which offered Monroe a departure from the Hollywood spotlight. She was eager to be taken seriously as an actress and was drawn to Miller’s intellect, while Miller was captivated by her beauty and vulnerability. During their marriage, Monroe worked on several significant films, including Some Like It Hot, but she struggled with emotional instability, and the pressures of fame took a toll on the marriage.
Miller wrote The Misfits (1961) for Monroe, but by the time the film was completed, their relationship was deeply strained. They divorced in 1961, shortly before Monroe’s tragic death. Despite their separation, the marriage marked a significant period of personal growth and challenge for both.
Must have been a busy girl, doing it all by age 36...
Yes, Marilyn Monroe achieved an extraordinary amount in her 36 years. Despite a difficult childhood and personal struggles, she rose to become one of the most famous and enduring figures in Hollywood history. By the time of her untimely death in 1962, she had starred in over 30 films, becoming a global icon known for her performances in movies like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Some Like It Hot, and The Seven Year Itch. Her roles were not just about beauty and charm; she demonstrated comedic talent and an ability to connect with audiences.
Monroe also ventured into intellectual pursuits. She was an avid reader with a personal library of over 400 books and aspired to be taken seriously as an actress. She studied acting at the prestigious Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg, seeking to deepen her craft. Her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller connected her to the world of literature, while her relationship with Joe DiMaggio linked her to the world of sports. Monroe also became a cultural icon through her rumored relationships with figures like President John F. Kennedy, bridging the worlds of politics and entertainment.
Her ambition extended to business as well; Monroe founded her own production company in 1955 to gain more creative control over her career.
Marilyn's mental health & instability
Marilyn Monroe’s family history was marked by significant struggles with mental illness. Monroe’s mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. She was institutionalized several times throughout Marilyn’s childhood and spent much of her life in mental hospitals. Monroe spent much of her early years in foster homes and an orphanage, which left her with a deep sense of abandonment and insecurity. Monroe's maternal grandmother, Della Monroe, also experienced mental health problems and was committed to a mental institution before her death.
These familial patterns of mental illness haunted Monroe throughout her life. She dealt with severe bouts of depression, anxiety, and mood swings, which were exacerbated by her troubled personal life and career pressures. In 1961, she was briefly institutionalized at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in New York. This experience was deeply traumatic for her.
BEST MOMENTS
Support for Black artists
“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt,” Ella Fitzgerald said. “It was because of her that I played the Mocambo, a very popular nightclub in the ’50s. She personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him – and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status – that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.”
Charting her own career
Marilyn challenged the film industry and all-powerful studio system by fighting for better roles and equal pay, and forming her own company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, to gain more control over her career and escape the typecasting she often faced as the "blonde bombshell." One result was "Bus Stop," considered one of Marilyn's best, where she took on a complex, dramatic role as Cherie, a singer with big dreams. The film was a critical success and demonstrated Monroe’s growth as an actress. A second, less successful film shot in the UK, was "The Prince and the Showgirl." Although the company was short-lived as Monroe’s personal struggles grew and her drug dependency led to declining health, it was a bold and brave move for a woman in the male-dominated film industry.
Being open about her struggles
Marilyn also broke taboos around discussions of mental health, openly struggling with anxiety and depression, which humanized her in the eyes of the public.
WORST MOMENTS
Institutionalization
Miscarriages
Childhood trauma
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Leonardo da Vinci
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